Hanger means for venetian blinds



ay 20, 1952 F. x. GANTER 2,597,578

HANGER MEANS FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Feb. 26, 1951 2 SHEETS--SHEET l INVENTOR. FRANC/5 X. @ANTE/P.

May 2G9 1952 F. X. GANTER HANGER MEANS FOR VENETIAN BLINDS 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1951 M /W/fo n Il INVENToR. FRANC/5 X GAA/77:7?.

llnllnllulilluElIllini Patented May 2G, 1952 UNITED STATES 2,597,578 ..IANGEE S FOR YEPNFPAN @INPS Francis Ganter, Los Angeles, Calif. Arphoehoo Fohwarr 26, 1.951. Serial 15.1- l.flf'7-3i for supporting a curtain .or drapery rqd'ghehind Y the fascia.

Conventional Venetian .blind .structures .usually include a wooden cornice having a top hoard; a front Wall, and endl Walls, the-partial .lcavolx-'lilfze structure being .suitably secured againstthe top rail of the Window frarn'e andservirig as a support `for the Venetian blindunit whichis suspended from .the head board Within the cornice; gafdurtain ror drapery rod being usually Supported within the comme by 4means of hangfels." auch a .cornice and hanger means is dislosxed .in hay Reissue Patent No. 22,989, issued May 23; 195413, for a Window Drape Rod Hanging Means." is Well recognized by those versed in the art, While such wooden cornices are especially pleasing` in appearance and eicient V-in u se, they :are Ilrelatively `expensive to manufacture since their front and @end vsections must be expertly fitted .together to .avoid .unsightly .lrnisioined corners.

when the Venetian .blind unit is attaohedfto ni under side of the .headboard kafter .compleibf the cornice, it is rdii-lieult to secure the'hange'r Abrackets for the Ablind unit in place; and' )much time is consumed :inI so assembling .the entire structure.

It has therefore .been proposed to employ o .cornice in which .the covering hond or .fasoia is made Vfrom .sheet metal, suolh a .asoia :having .rounded corners to ohhohoo .the aopea'rehoe of the-,Venetian blind assembly. ,As .in prior Yene- .tien 'b1ndsf,'a wooden-.top .board is employed and the blind is .suspended .therofrom hyY 11 hreokets.. Whilesuohanessombly izsfoeh in 111.5211: has .the-disadvantage of .neooositet le the .use .of .Small nails yor .hrads :for olitec. g the tached to 'the Wooden'headbard of fthe cornice,

Asaid mountingmean's vloeing dsposedlentirely m l4:5 fascie .to the @deo of the iop hoard, and those 2 the .rear .oi the feseh .this Wholly .ooheeehd .r ohio@ is. to provide a Venetian blind which thod .Shoot metal fes'ooihes longitudinally ,exty fgfchannl's' at its hpper and lovtohdees, .ih whiohth mou'hl-hhe frn'eans Qownsists o'fa' spring lip rneinberattaclied to under sfide of't e oo den headboard and or.l video with, o Suhl f 1y 'Veolfohppfl p irtior), tho'upner ohd'lo. @Fehde offvhh 'ero jed.. ated .to engag ih the ohahhols lof the .fe-Shih lgfoihlhthe L. Another .obaeot is" to ProB/.ido o .fascie mounting' or attaching, .meehe .hi whh .the iiiioal scup member nasa r'vers'eijy;

he loopy 1t. 1i/ohio iii/*the iihioof ohehhel of t soia and@ slanted. com of ,look portion A ther .object isto provide ha rriourltfing ni'eans, ...efirererree .te wmcih'hae ahorizontal attaching porti adapted 4to underlie the .headboard .adjacent .the .front je'sl'ee thereof ao .651 IGPYEFGW passnghlolgh an aperture inthe attaching portionand screvved into-,the heedhoerd.

.eforther ohio@ io .Provide ,o mounting 35 whoh has o downwardly-projecting hanger portion formed integrally therewith and adapted to receive `and"s`upp`ort' a curtainor drapery rod, Athe single, one-piece niounting f member .thus seh/.ine @double oorlooso- It vhas .reently jbeen tlepractic in Venetian blind .installations .to utilize relatively lorie, sheet metal holder'of channel 'shape forsus- .pending .thehlihd Aoooh holder beigfi'sipvool either with... the openin .f a window iframe or'against 'th upper horiz'ontal rail of the Window' frame. upper tiltabl 'per- .atirig per .of .the hhnd "is'ldisdsed Within thel channel-Shaped "lic'lgieii and "the orglfs forhoperatingthe blind extend doyvnward- ;lythrough-aperturesin the bottoni ofthe holder. In such vvenetian blind ase'rlies,t1e"ta1 holder o rc'hannel may -serve as the corni bit in other instances'afseparat ornafrnental'eornice may be e'xuiiplyed'fas la coverihg"for'.the 5Hhold`er. -It is therefore-'another 4hjeet rof .this

3 invention to provide additional mounting or supporting means by which a metal fascia may be supported from such a metal channel-like holder to serve as a covering therefor.

Another object is to provide a supporting member which is detachably connectible to the upper open end of the channel-shaped holder without the use of screws, bolts, or other separate fastening means, said supporting member being of angular shape to provide a horizontal leg having a hook at one end adapted to be snapped into place beneath the rolled upper edge of the rearward flange of the holder, the intermediate portion of said horizontal leg resting against the upper rolled edge of the other flange of the holder. The supporting member thus provides, in effect, a cantilever which has a depending vertical leg at its unsupported free end.

A further object is to provide a fascia support which includes mounting means by which the fascia can be mounted on the outer vertical leg of the supporting member. As an important feature of this invention the mounting means consists of one of the flexible mounting clips referred to above, the vertical leg of the supporting member being disposed against the inner or back side of the fascia and having an aperture at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical legs through which the upper looped end of the clip projects into the upper longitudinal channel of the fascia, the lower end of the clip engaging the fascia in the manner previously explained. Thus, by this construction, the same clip member is interchangeable and can be used in connection with either a, wooden headboard or a metal channel-shaped holder, and in the latter case the clip member forms the connection between the angular supporting member and the fascia to retain the latter in a position to conceal the holder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a supporting or mounting device in which the parts lend themselves to mass production from metal strip stock so as to maintain the cost thereof at a minimum.

Further objects will appear from the following description and from the drawings, which disclose an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one end of a support for a Venetian blind, as observed from below;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing the sheet metal band or fascia detachably secured in place against the forward edge of the top board of the Venetian blind;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the manner of applying the fascia to a clip member or hanger of the blind assembly;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the clip members;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one end of the fascia, showing it applied to use in connection with a channel-shaped sheet metal holder of a Venetian blind assembly;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View, taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the method of mounting the fascia in place on the holder;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the angular supporting member forming part of the mounting means shown in Fig. 5; and,

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the upper v4 portion of a holder, showing a modified form of supporting member.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 through 4, the present improved hanger or mounting means is shown as applied to use in connection with a wooden headboard I0, the latter being secured in place against the top rail of a window frame by means of suitable brackets, not herein shown. The headboard I0 is employed as a support for a conventional Venetian blind unit (not shown) which is suspended therefrom in the usual manner.

Secured aga-inst the under side of the headboard I0, adjacent its forward edge II, are the horizontal portions I4 of sheet metal clip members I5, the members being fastened in place by means of wood-screws I6, each passing through an aperture I'I in the horizontal portion and being screwed into the headboard. Several of the clip members I5 are employed in the assembly, but since they are identical only one will be described in detail.

Forwardly of the edge I I, the metal of the clip member I5 extends upwardly to a point slightly above the top surface of the board I0 where it is looped forwardly and downwardly as indicated at I8. From the loop I8, the sheet metal extends downwardly in a vertical portion or stanchion I9, the lower end of which is disposed at a considerable distance below the headboard I0. At its lower end, the vertical portion I9 is bent forwardly to provide a hook-shaped cam portion 20. Centrally of its vertical edges, the cam portion 20 is provided with a U-shaped slit and the metal within the connes of the slit is struck downwardly to provide a depending stop lug or ear 2 l.

The clip members I5, as thus far described, are employed for the purpose of detachably securing an ornamental covering or fascia 22 to the front and end edges of the headboard I0. A suitable number of the clip members I5 may be secured to the headboard at spaced intervals along its front edge II, and at least one clip member is similarly applied to each end 23 of the headboard.

The fascia 22 is made from sheet metal and has a vertical wall 25, upper and lower rearwardly bent webs 26 and 21, a downwardly projecting flange 28 at its upper end, and an upwardly projecting flange 29 at its lower end. The wall 25 defines, with the webs and flanges, an upper channel 30 and a lower channel 3|. The fascia is, of course, generally U-shaped in plan view to adapt it to follow the contour of the front and end edges of the headboard III.

To apply the fascia 22 to the headboard I0, the upper channeled end of the fascia is placed over the upper looped ends I8 of the clip members I5, which are already fastened in place against the under side of the headboard, and the fascia is forced downwardly on the looped ends. The clip members are made from spring metal so that the sides of their loop portions I8 may flex toward each other to allow downward movement of the fascia from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2, at which time the inherent tendency of the loop I8 to spread open causes the upper end of the fascia to be frictionally gripped by the loops.

It is to be noted that the length of the vertical portion I9 of each clip member I5, that is, the dimension X in Fig. 3, is slightly greater than the internal vertical dimension Y of the fascia. Consequently, when the lower portion of the fascia is moved inwardly toward the clip mem- 'bers l5, the curved cam portions 2|! engage and ride across the upper edge of the ange 29, the vertical portion I9 exing o r bowing to permit Such relative movement. l Eventually, the stop ears 2| engage against the ilange 29 to limit movement of the fascia in this direction, at which time the upper edge of the flange snaps into V-shaped notches 32 formed between the curved corners of Vthe cam portions and the stop ears 2|. Since the vertical portions I9 must be shortened in length to accommodate such placing of the fascia on the clip members, the vertical portions are -caused to assume the4 bowed shape shown in Fig. 2 so `as to retain the flange 29 within :the notches 32. The fascia 22 thus is Secu-rely held in place by the clip members, and provides, in effect, a skirt which surrounds the front and ends .of `the .headboard AHl and serves to conceal the .operating mechanism of the Venetian blind. If for any reason it becomes necessary to remove the fascia 22, .this may be readily accomplished by ysimply prying the .clip portions 119 `inwardly toward the -headboard so .as to free the ends 2U., 2| from the nange 29.

In Venetian blind structures of the general type disclosed herein, it is customary to provide hanger means for supporting a rod `from which .a curtain or drape may be suspended. Each mounting means ,I5 embodies such a hanger .36 which consistsof a leg 31 bent downwardly from the inner .end of the horizontal portion |4 and terminating in a hook 38 into which the rod '35 .can be readily snapped. It is thus seen vthat the clip members l5 serve the double function of mounting the fascia 22 and supporting the curtain or drapery rod 35.

Referring now to Figs- 5 to 8, the present invention also contemplates a mounting means which is adaptable for use in connection with a Venetian blind having a channel-shaped holder 50 'in rwhich the upper operating elements Vof the blind are located. Such a holder maybe located within the upper portion of a Window frame or against the side of the upper horizontal rail of the frame, and in either case the ends of the holder are closed by means of brackets (not shown) which retain the holder -in place on the window frame. The holder 50 is constructed from vsheet metal, and has a bottom portion 5| and `opstanding side walls 52 and 53. At their upper edges, the walls 52 and Y53 are rolled inwardiy to vprovide small longitudinal channels or recesses 54.

An angular sheet metal Supporting member 55 lhasa horizontal leg 56 and a vertical leg l51. At its free end, the leg 56 slopes downwardly at 58, the metal then being bent upwardly and laterally 4to provide a hook-like bead 59 of arcuate crosssectional shape. The legs 56 and 51 are provided with longitudinally extending ribs 6D to add strength and rigidity to the member. At 4the intersection of the legs 56 and 51, the member 55 is provided with a rectangular aperture 6|.

The supporting member 55 is, in eiect, Aan

adapter making it possible -to utilize the Amountl,

the vsame ymanner as explained hereinbefore,v that is, by inserting its upper looped end I5 into the channel 3| and thereafter `flexing its lower Qam portion toward the ilange 29 to cause the `upper end of this ilange to snap into the notch 32. `In inserting the looped end |.8 in the channel 3S, the end is first passed through the aperture 6| of the supporting member 55 so that when the clip member is in place against the fascia the supporting member is locked against the fascia and a unitary structure, composed vof the fascia and the several supporting members and clip members, is provided. This unitary structure is detachably connected to the channel-shaped holder 50 by simply hooking the beads '59 vof the 'legs 56 into the channel 54 0f the rear wall `52 of the holder with a snap action, this operation being shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be. seen that .the free ends of the vlegs 56 are disposed in the Vchannel 54 while the intermediate portions Vof .these klegs rest upon the upper end of the front wall 53 of the holder 5I). The members 55 thus provide -cantilever supports for the fascia 2-2 which is held against the legs 51 by the bowing of the 'resilient clip members I5. The mounting means 55, l5

rigidly support the fascia in position to conceal the holder 50 and may be disconnected from the holder when necessary by simply prying the beads .59 downwardly from the inner channel 54 and lifting the assembly 55, I5, 22 from the holder.

.Since .the clip members I5 used vwith the supporting members 55 are identical with those em.- ployed in connection with the wooden headboard I0 `of Fig. l, it will be apparent that they are interchangeable. In the installation shown in Fig. 5, clip members I5, placed at the ends of the fascia as indicated at 63, serve merely as supports for the bent ends of the drapery rod 35. vIf it is -`desired to conserve material, the clip members I5, when used as shown in Fig. 5, may assume the shape indicated by the broken lines 64.

Referring now to Fig. 9, the invention further contemplates a supporting member 10 of alternative form. This holder member is designed primarily for use in connection with a channelshaped holder having vertical walls 1| and 12. the upper edges of which terminate in inwardly and downwardly directed curved flanges 13 and 14. The supporting member 10 has an upwardly bent curved ear 15 at its rearward end adapted to overlie the flange 13. The member also hasA a downwardly projecting ear or dog 15 adapted to underlie the flange 14.

To apply the supporting member 10 to use, it is placed with its rearward end in the position shown in Fig. 9, that is, Iunderlying the ange 13 and with its ear resting upon this ange. Wit-h the forward portion of the supporting member 18 resti-ng upon the flange 14, the forward lwall 12 is sprung forwardly and the dog 16 is positioned under :the flange 14, after which the wall 12 is released. The ear 15 and dog 15 thus lock the supporting member in place on the holder.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation tof my invention together with the mount-ing means which 'I now consider to represent the best :embodiments thereof, but I .desire :to have it understood that the devices shown are only illustrative and that the invention maybe carried out by modified means.

.I `claim Yas my invention 1. Mounting means for supporting a fascia in position .tocon-ceal lthe holdercf a Venetian blind from which the blind slats are suspended, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels, :comprising: a resilient clip member having connecting means at its ends releasably engageable in said channels to detachably connect said `fascia to said clip member; and attaching means associated with said clip member and detachably connecti-ble to the holder of the Venetian blind.

2. Mounting means for supporting a fascia in position to conceal the holder of a Venetian blind from which the blind slats are suspended, said fascia having upper and lower flanges dening upper and lower longitudinally extending channels, comprising: a resilient clip member having a loop at one end insertable in one of said channels and detent means at its other end engageable with the flange dening the other channel to detachably connect the fascia to said clip member; and attaching means associated with said clip member and detachably connectible to the holder of the Venetian blind.

3. Mounting means for supporting a fascia in position to conceal the holder of a Venetian blind from which the Iblind slats are suspended, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels, comprising: a resilient clip member having a vertical portion provided with connecting means at its upper andvlower ends releasably engageable in said channels to detachably connect said fascia to said clip member; and attaching means associated with said clip member and extending laterally with respect to its said vertical portion, said attaching means being detachably connectible to the holder of the Venetian blind and supporting said fascia from said holder.

4. Mounting means for supporting a fascia in lposition to conceal the holder of a Venetian blind from which the blind slats are suspended, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels, comprising: a resilient clip member having a vertical portion provided with connecting means at its upper and lower ends releasably engageable in said channels to detachably connect said fascia to said clip member; and attaching means for detachably -connecting said clip member to the holder of the Venetian blind, said vertical portion being spaced laterally from said holder.

5. Mounting means for supporting a fascia in position to conceal the holder of a Venetian blind from which the blind slats are suspended, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels, comprising: a supporting member having a iirst end detachably connected to the holder and a second end disposed against the inner surface of said fascia; and a resilient clip member having a vertical 'portion provided with connecting means at its upper and lower ends releasably engageable in said channels to detachably connect said fascia to said cli-p member, said clip member overlying said second end of said supporting member and retaining the latter against said fascia.

6. Mounting means for supporting a fascia in position to conceal the holder of a Venetian blind from which the blind slats are suspended, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels, comprising: an angular supporting member having a rst leg detachably connected to the holder and a second leg disposed against the inner surface of said fascia; and a resilient clip member having a vertical portion provided with connecting means at its upper and lower ends releasably engageable in said channels to detachably connect said fascia to said clip member, said clip member overlying said second leg and retaining the same against said fascia.

7. A mounting means as dened in claim 6 in which said supporting member has an aperture at the intersection of its legs, and in which the connecting means at the upper end of said clip member extends through said aperture and into the upper channel of said fascia.

8. A mounting means as defined in claim 6 in which said supporting member has an aperture at the intersection of its legs, the end of said second leg being disposed in the lower channel of said fascia, and in which the connecting means at the upper end of said clip member consists of a loop extending through said aperture and into the upper channel of said fascia.

9. Mounting means for supporting a fascia in position to conceal the channel-shaped holder of a Venetian blind from which the blind slats are suspended, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels, said holder having a longitudinally extending recess in one of its sides, comprising: an angular supporting member having a horizontal leg and a vertical leg, the free end of said horizontal leg having a hook-like bead engageable in said recess, and an intermediate portion of said horizontal leg resting upon the other side of the holder, said supporting member having an aperture at the intersection of its legs; and a resilient clip member having a vertical portion provided with connecting means at its upper and lower ends releasably engageable in said channels to detachably connect said fascia to said clip member, one of said connecting means extending through said aperture to lock said second leg against the fascia, said fascia, said clip member, and said supporting member being detachable as a unit from the holder by tilting the unit upwardly to disengage said bead from said recess.

l0. A Venetian blind upper assembly, including: a holder adapted to be secured to a structure adjacent a window and to support a plurality of blind slats; a fascia for surrounding said holder and concealing the same, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels; a plurality of clip members each having a vertical portion provided with connecting means at its upper and lower ends engageable in said channels to support said fascia; and attaching means for detachably connecting said clip members to said holder with said fascia spaced from said holder.

11. A Venetian blind upper assembly, including: a headboard; a fascia surrounding the exposed edges of said headboard and concealing the same, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels; and a plurality of clip members each having a vertical portion provided with connecting means at its upper and lower ends engageable in said channels to support said fascia, said clip members having horizontal portions secured against the under side of said headboard.

12. A Venetian blind upper assembly, including: a headboard; a U-shaped fascia surrounding the exposed edges of said headboard and concealing the same, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels; and a plurality of resilient clip members each having a vertical portion provided with connecting means at its upper and lower ends engageable in said channels to support said fascia, said clip members having horizontal portions secured against the under side of said headboard.

13. A Venetian blind upper assembly, including: a headboard; a U-shaped fascia surrounding the exposed edges of said headboard and concealing the same, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels; and a plurality of resilientclip members each having a vertical portion provided with a loop at its upper end receivable in the upper channel of said fascia and each having a cam portion and a notch at its lower end, said cam portion being movable across an edge of said lower channel to cause said edge to snap into said notch. said clip members having horizontal portions secured against the under side of said headboard.

14. A Venetian blind upper assembly, including: a headboard; a U-shaped fascia surrounding the exposed edges of said headboard and concealing the same, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels; a plurality of resilient clip members each having a vertical portion provided with connecting means at its upper and lower ends engageable in said channels to support said fascia, said clip members having horizontal portions secured against the under side of said headboard, each of said clip members also having a leg depending from its said horizontal portion and provided with a hook at its lower end; and a drapery rod receivable in said hooks to adapt it to be supported from said clip members.

15. A mounting device for use in connection with a Venetian blind assembly having a holder for supporting a plurality of slats, a fascia for concealing the holder, and a drapery rod, said device consisting of a resilient clip member having a substantially horizontal portion adapted to be connected to the holder, a substantially vertical portion at one side of said horizontal portion adapted to support the fascia, and a depending leg at the other side of said horizontal portion, said leg having a hook adapted to receiving the drapery rod.

16. A mounting device for use in connection with a Venetian blind assembly having a holder for supporting a plurality of slats, a fascia for concealing the holder, and a drapery rod, said device including: an angular supporting member having a rst leg detachably connectible to the holder and a second leg against which the fascia is adapted to be disposed; and a spring clip member detachably connectible to the fascia and engageable with said second leg to retain the latter against the fascia, said clip member having a downwardly extending portion formed with a hook adapted to receive and support the drapery rod.

17. A mounting device for use in connection with a venetian bund assembly having a holder for supporting a plurality of slats, a fascia for concealing the holder, and having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels and a drapery rod, said device including: an angular supporting member having a rst leg detachably connectible to the holder and a second leg against which the fascia is adapted to be disposed; and a spring clip member having a vertical portion provided with locking means at its ends engageable in said channels, said vertical portion being engageable with said second leg to lock the same against the fascia, said clip member having a downwardly extending portion formed with a hook adapted to receive and support the drapery rod.

18. Mounting means for supporting a fascia in position to conceal the channel-shaped holder of a Venetian blind from which the blind slats are suspended, said fascia having upper and lower longitudinally extending channels, said holder having spaced forward and rearward vertical walls provided with inturned anges at their upper edges, comprising: an angular supporting member having a horizontal leg and a vertical leg, the free rearward end of said horizontal leg underlying the ange of the rearward wall of said holder, and an intermediate portion of said horizontal leg rest-ing upon the ilange of said forward wall of said holder, said rearward end having an upwardly bent ear underlying said flange of said rearward wall and said intermediate portion having a downwardly bent ear underlying the flange of said forward wall, said supporting member having an aperture at the intersection of its legs; and a resilient clip member having a vertical portion provided with connecting means at its upper and lower ends releasably engageable in said channels to detachably connect said fascia to said clip member, one of said connecting means extending through said aperture to lock said second leg against the fascia, said fascia, said clip member, and said supporting member being detachable as a unit from the holder by springing the forward wall of said holder away from said rearward wall thereof so as to release said ear and permit upward tilting movement of said supporting member.

FRANCIS X. GANTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,272,956 Stuber Feb. 10, 1942 2,526,806 Charbonneau Oct. 24, 1950 

